Political Dig

A longtime law enforcement officer testified Wednesday that the Memphis Police Department failed to adequately investigate sexual assaults and forced him to keep quiet about it.

Lt. Cody Wilkerson, a 26-year veteran of the force, gave “bombshell” testimony he complained to top brass, who ignored his calls for reform.

The former detective also revealed that police administrators prevented him from talking to an advocate for victims at the Rape Crisis Center, as well as the media, reported the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

“It was making the police department look bad,” Wilkinson testified.

The testimony came in a lawsuit against Memphis’ mishandling of rape kits. In 2013, it was revealed that 12,000 rape kits had never been tested.

“The lawsuit is not about the circumstances of each individual rape,” attorney for the plaintiffs, Daniel Lofton told Judge Gina Higgins Wednesday.

“It’s a very grave insult and a multiple injury to each of this victims,” Lofton explained.